2013-05-04

She sat in
the shallowest water, picking the petals off a flower, the last of the really
warm summer days glowing on her skin. One by one, white petals rained into the
tide and were dragged away by the hungry sea.

“There’s a
boat.”

Lani
plucked the last petal, held it between two fingers close to her face, studied
it. Then she stood, let it drop. A shorter version of her silk-patterned garb
clung to her wet thighs.

“You’re
going.”

“You’re
going with me.” There was something so desperate in his tone that Lani closed
her eyes toward the sea. She reached out a blind hand and found his poorly
shaven face deftly.

“I’m not.
It’s a nice fire, but it isn’t a wish.”

Caspian’s
mouth opened and closed helplessly. He wrung the hem of his white shirt in
agitation. Opening her eyes, Lani turned. Keeping her hand on his face and
adding another, she stood on her tiptoes. Then she kissed him. She kissed him
goodbye.

“Lani, I
can’t just leave you.” Hanging his head as one under enormous weight, he
expelled a heavy breath. His fists clenched impotently in her hair.

She was
sad, smiled, made no response. His fists unclenched. His footsteps turned away
toward the smoke rising toward the bright blue sky.